Though initially I found this place a bit rough due to traffic congestion, humid weather and soaring prices apart from food, I will be blessed if I eventually settle down here.
Patience and perseverance, you inherit it within two months of stay here. When I feel I drop down from bus and start running as traffic is really slow during office hours, people just stay calm, listening to music, reading newspaper or watching Sanjeev Kapoor's recipe show. When I feel like taking a rest or slowing a little I see people walking, walking like emperor penguins during storm.
Unlike Delhi, people do not go especially to eat somewhere. Time and space, people know here what it means that's why Mumbai is far superior relative to other places in India. Time and space, theory of relativity!!!!
I have heard how Mumbai resist changes from external situations like terrorist attacks, strike, blasts and calamities. But the all India strike on this Monday was life time experience.
Officially and unofficially, all establishment were closed. But I decided to go to office because my boss would be reaching there. In Bandra and Ghatkopar, hooligans making mess were being reported. So the buses of my route were canceled. I waited for more than an hour before a decent guy offered me a lift and look, he dropped me in front of the gate!!
Security was tight and the office was in darkness, only 4 have turned up including me. At 11:30, news spread that situation is worse now and hence buses will be cancelled.
I wrapped up my work and started walking no where, I couldn't decide what to do.
Buses came in batches with extra protection and almost 3 times normal speed. They wouldn't stop between stations.So I decided to walk up to Andheri station. There was a short cut, but playing safe, I opted for normal bus route, 40 min walk.The road was empty, only two sounds could reach ears, ambulance and police. Boys were enjoying cricket and all the news stall were permitted to open!
Reaching Kandivali, I hunted for food..but it was exhausted inside station stalls.Now another marathon walk. On reaching highway I almost decided to wait for next day, I could not walk anymore. I had walked distance what we pay Rs. 10 for roadways bus!!
I could not decide whether the empty stomach was giving pain or my injured leg.
However, someone on Activa sniffed my position and he dropped be to place from where I could walk. A medical store was open where it was written "perk with extra glucose".
I ate 2 of them, ran to home, cooked "bread poha" which is unauthentic and unethical to cook, ate and just went to deep sleep. At evening, shops were still closed but mobility was increasing. Tomorrow, things will be back on track and with more thrust, I predicted. And today, traffic was at peak, my office was decorated with red balloons, the roadside upma wala was more agile and lunch at canteen was even more delicious. Bharat Band can stop Bharat, but not me and Mumbai.
Salaam Bombay.
